An Enterlude called Lusty Juventus :: :: University of Virginia Library

An Enterlude called Lusty Juventus

Lyuely describing the frailtie of youth : of natur, prone to vyce : by grace and good counsayll, traynable to vertue

Wever, R.

An Enterlude called lusty Iuuentus.

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Here entreth lusty Iuuentus, or youth singinge as foloweth.

In a herber grene, a slope where as I laye
The byrdes sang swete in the myddes of the daye
I dreamed fast of myrth and play
In youth is pleasur, in youth is pleasure.

Me thought I walked stil to and fro
And from her company I could not go
But when I waked it was not so,
In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

Therfore my harte is surel ypyght.
Of her alone to haue a sight.
Whiche is my ioy and hartes delyght,
In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

Finis.

Lusty iuuentus or youth, he speaketh.

What how are they not here?
I am disapoynted by the blessed masse,
I had thought to haue founde them makyng good chere
But now they are gone to some secrte place.
Uel seing they are gone, I do not greatly passe.
Another tyme I will holde them as much,
Seinge they brake promise, and kepe not the tweche.

What shal I do now to passe a waye the daye
Is there any man here that will go to game.
At what so euer ye wil play
To make one, I am redy to the same:
youth ful of pleasure is my propre name
To be alone is not my appetyte.
For of all thynges in th world I loue merey compani

Who knoweth where is ere a mynstrel,

By the masse I would fayne go daunce a fit
My compacions are at it I know right well
They do not all this whyle in a corner sit:
Agaynste another tyme they haue taught my wyt
I beshrew their hartes for seruing me this.
I will go seke them, whether I hyt or mysse.

Here entreth god counsell. To whō iouth yet speaketh.

Well I met father, well I met,
Did you heare any minstrels playe?
As you cam hitherwarde vpon your way,
And yf you did I pray you wyshe me theither
For I am goyng to seke thē, & in fayth I know not whether

Good coūsell.
Syr I will aske you a question by your fauour
what would you with the minstrell do?

Iuuentus.
Nothyng but haue a daunce or two,
To passe the tyme away in pleasure,

Good coūsell.
If that be the matter, I promyse you sure
I am the more soryer that it should so be,
For there is no such passing, ye tyme a poynted in ye scrypture
Nor yet therunto it doth not a gre,
I wyshe that ye would so vse your libertie,
To walke as you are bound to do,
Accordyng to the vocatiō, whych god hath called you to,

Iuuentus.
Why syr, are you angry because I haue spoken so
By the masse it is alone for my apety

Good counsell
Shewe me your name I praye you hertely
And then I will my minde expresse

Iuuentus.
My name is called Iuuentus doutles
Say what you will I will geue you the hearinge.

Good counsel.
For as much as god hath created you of nothing,
Unto his owne lyknes, by spirituall illuminacion,
It is vnmete that ye should leade your lyuinge
Contrary to hys godly determynacyon,
Sainct Paul vnto ye Ephesians geueth good exhortaciō

Saying, walke circumspectly, redeming the tyme
That is to spēd it well, & not to wickednes enclyne

Iuuentus.
No, no, hardely none of myne,
If I wold lyue so straight, you might coūt me a foole
Let them kepe thouse rules, whiche are doctours diuine
And haue be brought vp all theyr dayes in scole.

Good counsell
Moyses in the lawe exhorteth his people,
As in the boke of Deutronomye he doth playnly wryte,
That they should lyue obedyent and thankefull,
For infecte these wordes he doth resyte:
All ye this day stand before the Lordes syght,
Both princes, rulers, elders and parentes,
Chyldrē wiues, yong & olde, therfore obey his commaūdemēts

Iuuentus.
I am to yong to vnderstand his documents,
Wherfore did all they stand before his presence?

Good counsell
To entre with God peace and aliaunce,
Promysing that they woulde him honour, feare & serue
All kynde of people were bounde in those couenauntes,
That from his lawe they shuld neuer swarue,
For God vseth no percialitie.

Iuuentus.
What? am I bound as wel as the cleargy,
To learne and follow his preceptes and lawe?

Good counsell
Ye surely, or els God wil withdrawe
Hys mercy from you, promysed in his couenaunt,
For except you lyue vnder hys obedience and awe,
How can you receue the benyfites of his testament?
For he submetteth hymselfe to be a seruaunt,
And his masters commaūdemēt wyl not fulfil nor regard
According as he hath done, is worthy hys reward.

Iuuentus.
It is as true a sayng as euer I heard,
Therfore your name I pray now tell,
For by my truth your cōmunication I like wondres wel

Good counsell
My name is called good counsell,

iuuētus
Good counsel,
Now in fayth I cry you mercy,
I am sory that I haue you thus offended,
But I pray you beare with me paciently,
And my misse behaueour shalbe amended,
I know my tyme I haue rudely spended,
Folowinge my awne lust, beinge led bi ignoraunce.
But nowe I hope of better knowledge through your aquayntaunce.

Good counsell
I praye God guide you with hys gracyous assistans
Unto ye knowlege of hys truth, your ignoraunce to vndo
That you may be one of those numbred christians
Which foloweth the lambe whether he doth go,
The lambe Iesus Christ, my meanynge is so,
By sure fayth & confidence, in his bitter death & passion,
The onely pryce of oure health and saluacyon.

iuuētus
Syr, I thanke you for youre harty oracion
And now I praye you shewe me your aduisemet
Howe I maye lyue in this my vocation,
Accordyng to Godds will and commaundement.

Good counsell
Fyrst of all it is moste expedient.
That you exercyse your selfe in continual prayer,
That it might please the Lorde omnipotente,
To send vnto you his holi spirit and comforter:
Whiche will leade you euery daye and houre
Unto the knowledge of hys worde and verytie
Where in you may learne to lyue most christianly.

iuuētus
heeuelith
O Lord graunt me of thy infinite mercy,
The true knowledge of the lawe and wil,
And illumine my hart with spirit continually
That I way be apte thy holy preceptes to fulfyl:
Strengthen me, that I maye parseuer stil.
Thy commaundementes to obaye.

And then shal I neuer slip nor fal away,
he riseth.
Ful true be these wordes, which Christ hym self did saye
He that seketh shal surely fynde.

Good counsell
Be holde youth now reioyce we may
For I se knowledge of God, verite stand here behinde
He is come now to satisfey your mynde
In those thynges which you will desire,
Therfore together let vs approche him nere.

Iuuentus.
A good counsyl, new it doth appere.
That god neuer reiecteth the humbles petycion.

Knowledge,
Now ye Lord blesse you al Wt his heauēly benedyctyon,
And with his fyery loue your harts enflame
That of hys mercyful promyses you may haue ye fruityō
The subtiltie, of the deuel, vtterly to defame:
Nou good christian audience, I will expresse mi name
The true knowledge of gods veritie. thus mi name doth hyghte,
Whom God hath appointed, to geue ye blind their syght.

Good councell
All prase be geuen to that Lord of myght,
which hath appoynted you hether at thys present houre
For I trust you wil so instruct youth a right,
That he shal liue accordyng to Gods pleasure

Iuuentus
And I thanke Iesus Christ my sauiour,
That he ys come to my company.

Knowledge.
I thanke you my frendes most harteli
For your gentyll salutacion.

Iuuentus.
Syr, I wil be so bolde by your delyberation
To opyn my mind vnto you now,
Trustynge that bi your good exhortacyon,
I shall learne those thynges, which I neuer knew:
This one thynge chiefly I woulde learne of you
How I maye my lyfe in thes my vocacyon leade.
Accordynge as God hath ordeyned and decrede,

Knowledge

The prophet Dauid saith: that the man is blessed,

Which doth excersise hym selfe in the lawe of the Lorde,
And doth not folow the way of the wickid,
As the fyrst psalme doth playnly accorde:
The foure score & .xiii. psalmes therunto dothe accorde.
Blessed is the man whome thou teachest, o Lord sayth he
To learne the law, precepts, worde or verytie

And Christ in the Gospel sayth manifestly.
Blessed is he which heareth ye worde of god ād kepeth it,
That is to beleue hys word, & lyue accordingly
Declaryng the fayth by the fruytes of the spirit
Whose frutes are these, as s. Paul to ye Gal, doth wrighte
Loue ioie, peace, long suffring and faithfulnes
Mekenes, goodnes, temperaunce and gentilnes

Good counsell
Be these wordes which vnto you he doth expresse
He teacheth that you ought to haue a stedfast faith
With out it is impossible doutlesse,
To please god, as sainct Paul sayth:
Where fayth is not, godly lyuing decaieth
For whatsoeuer is not of fayth, sayth.s.Paul, is synne,
But where a perfite faith is, there is good working

Iuuentus
It semeth to me that this your meanyng,
That whē I obserue gods commaūdemētes & ye workes of charyte
They shall preuayl vnto me nothyng,
Except I beleue to be saued therby.

Knowledge.
No, no, you are deceyued very blyndly,
for fayth in Christes merites dothe onely iustyfy,
And make vs righteous in goddes sight

Iuuentus.
Why should I then in Good workes delight?
Seing I shal not be saued by them

Good counsel.
Becausy they are required of al christian men,
As the necessary fruites of true repentaunce.

Knowledge,
But the reward of the heauenli inheritaunce
Is geuen vs through faith, for Christes deseruinges,

As.s Paule declareth in ye .iiii. chapter to the Romayns
therfore we ought not to worke as hierlinges:
Seing Christ hath purged vs once from al our wicked lyuing.
Let vs no more wallow therin,
But perseuer like good braūches, bearing frute in hym.

Iuuentus
Now I know where about you haue bene.
My elders neuer taught me so before.

Good councell
Though your elders wer blynd, dout not you therfore
For sainct Peter sayth, vaine is the conuersations,
Whiche ye receyue by your elders traditions,

Iuuentus.
I wyll gladly receyue your godly admonicions,
But yet I praye you shewe me the cause,
that they being men of great discretions
Did not instructe me in gods lawes,
According to hys will and ordinaunce

Knowledge.
Because they thē selfes were wrapped in ignoraunce
Being deceyued by false preachers.

Iuuentus.
O Lord deliuer me from wicked teachers,
That I be not deceyued with theyr false doctrine.

Good counsell
to Gods word you must onely encline,
Al other doctrine cleane set a parte.

Iuuentus.
Surely that I will from the bottom of my heart,
And I thēke ye liuing God whyth hath geuen me ye knowledge
To know hys doctryng frō the false & peruarce
I being yet yonge and full tender of age:
And that he hath made me partaker of ye heauenly in heritage
Of his one mercy and not of my deseruynge
For hell I haue decerued by my synfull workyng.
I know right well my elders and parentes.
Haue of a longe tyme deceuid be,
With blynd hypocrisy and supersticious ententes,
Trusting in theyr owne workes, which is nothynge but vanyte
Their steppes shall not be folowed for me,

Therfore I pray you shew me a briefe conclusyon,
How I oughte to lyue in chrystian religion.

Knowledge.
The first begyning of wysdō, as sayth ye wise Salomon
Is to feare God with al they harte and power
And thē yu must beleue al his promise Wtout any exception
And that he will performe thē both cōstant & sure
And then be cause he is thy only sauiour
Thou must loue hym with all thy soule and mynde
And thy neybour as thyself, because he hath so assyned,

Iuuentus.
To loue my neybour as my self, I cā not be to kynde
I pray you tell me, what meane you

Knowledge.
My meanyng is as Chryste sayth in ye .vi. chap. Math.
To do to hym as you woulde be done to

Iuuentus.
I pray God geue me grace so for to do
That vnto hys wil I maye be obedyent.

Good counsell
Here you shall reseaue Christes testament
To comfort your consience when nede shal requyre
To learne the contentes there of, se that you be dilygent
The which all chrystian men ought to desyre
For it is the wel, or fountayne moste clere
Out of the which doth spryng swete consolacyon
To all those that thyrst after eternal saluacyon.

Knowledge.
Ther in shal you fynde most holsome presaruacion
Both in troubles, percicucions, sicknes ād aduersytye
And a sure defence in the time of temptacyon
Agaynst whom ye deuel can not preuayle Wt all his army:
And if you perseuer therin vnfaynedly
It wyl set your hart at suche quietnes and rest
Which can not neuer be turned with stormes nor tempest

Good counsell
With this thyng you must neyther flatter nor iest
But stedfastly beleue it euery day and houre
And let youre conuersacyon opīly protest
That of your hart it is ye most precious treasure

And then your godly example shal other men procure
To learne and exercyse the same also
I praye God strengthen you so for to do

Iuuentus

Now for this godly knowledge, whych you haue brought me to
I beseche the lyuynge God reward you agayn
From your company I wyl neuer departe nor go
So longe as in thys lyfe I do remayne:
For in thys boke I se manyfest and playne
That he that foloweth hys owne lustes & imagynacyon
Kepeth the ready path to euerlast dampnacyon.

And he that leadete a godly conuersacyon
Shal be borught to suche quietnes, ioy and peace
Which in comparison passeth all worldly gloriation
Whiche con not endure, but shortly cease
Both the time and houre I may now blesse
That I met with you father good councel
to bryng me to the knowledge of his heueuenly Gospel

Knowledge.
This your profession I like veri wel
So that you entend to lyue accordyng
I praye God your lyuing do not rebell
But euer agre vnto your sayng
That when ye shal make acountes or rekening
Of thys talent, whych you haue receued
you may be one of those, Wt whom ye Lord shalbe pleased

Good councell
For thys cōuersacion of youth, ye lords nam be prased
Let vs now departe for a ceason.

Exit
Knowledge,
To geue God the glori it is conuenient and reason
yf thou will depart, I will not tary.

Exit
Iuuentus.
And I wil neuer forsake your company
Whyle I lyue in thys world

Here entreth the Deuel,

Oh oh all to late
I trow thys geare wil come to naught
For I perceyue my powre doth a bate

For al the policie that euer I haue wrought,
Many and sundry wayes I haue sought,
To haue the word of god deluded vtterly,
Oh for sorow yet it will not be.

I haue done the best that I can,
And my ministers also in euery place,
to rote it clene from the hart of man,
And yet for all that it florisheth a pace:
I am sore in drede to shew my face,
My auctoritie and workes are so greatly dyspysed
My inuentions, and all that euer I haue deuised

Oh oh, ful well I know the cause,
that my estimacion doth thus decay,
the olde people woulde beleue stil in my lawes,
But the yonger sort leade them a contrary way
they wyl not beleue they playnly say,
In olde traditions and made by men,
But they wil lyue as the scripture teacheth thē.

Out I crye vpon them, they do me open wrōg,
to bring vp their chyldren thus in knowlage,
For if they wil not folow my wayes whē thei are yong
yt is harde turning them when they come to age:
I must nedes fynd some meanes this matter to swage,
I meane to turn theyr hartes from the scripture quite,
that in carnal pleasurs they may haue more delyght.

Wel I wil go taste to enfect this youth
through the entisement of my sonne hypocrysie,
And worke some proper feate to stope his mouth
that he may lede hys lyfe carnally:
I had neuer more nede my matters to apply,
Oh my chyld hypocrisie, where art thou?
I charge ye of my blessing, apeare before me now

Oh oh quod ha, kepe agayne the sowe,

Here entreth hypocrysie.
Hipocrysye.
I come as faste as I can, I warrant you,
Where is he that hath the sowe to sell?
I wil geue hym money yf I lyke her well,
wether it be sowe or hogge, I do not greatly care
For by my occupacion I am a bochare,

Deuell.
Oh my chylde, how doest thou fare?

Hipocrysye
Sancti amen, who haue we there?
By the masse I wyl bye none of thy ware,
thou arte a chapman for the deuell

Deuell.
What my sonne, canst thou not tell?
Who is here, and what I am,
I am thyne owne father Sathan.

Hipocrycye.
Be you so syr? I crye you mercy than,
you may say I am homely, & lacke learnyng,
to lyken my fathers voyce vnto a sowes groning
But I pray you shew me the cause, and why
that you called me hether so hastely,

Deuell.
A Hypocrisie, I am vndone vtterly

Hipocrysye.

Utterly vndone, nay stop there hardely,
For I my selfe do know the contrary,
By dayly experience:
Do not I yet raygne a brode,
And as longe as I am in the worlde,
you haue some treasure and substaunce.

I suppose I haue ben the flower
In settyng forth thy lawes and power,
Without any delay
By the masse if I had not bene,
thou haddest not ben worth a flaunders pin,
At thys present daye.

the tyme were to long nowe to declare
How many and great the number are,
Whiche haue deceyued be:

And brought cleane from Gods lawe,
Unto thy yoke and awe,
Through the intisement of me.

I haue ben bused since ye world began,
to graffe thy lawes in the hart of man,
Where they ought to be refused:
And I haue so mingled gods cōmaūdemētes
with vaine zeales, & blind intents
that they be greatly abused.

I set vp great ydolatry
With a kynd of fylthy Sodometry,
to geue mankynd a fall:
And I brought vp suche supersticion
Under the name of holynes and religyon,
that disceyued almoste all.

As holy Cardinals. holy Popes,
Holy vestimentes, holy copes
Holy armytes and Fryers
Holy priestes. holy bisshoppes
Holy monkes, holy abbotes
yea, and all abstinate lyers.

Holy pardons, holy beades,
Holy saincts, holy ymages,
With holy, holy bloud,
Holy stockes, holy stones:
Holy cloughtes, hole bones:
yea, and holy holy wood.

Holy skinnes, holy bulles:
Holy rochetts, and coules
Holy crouches and staues
Holy hoodes, holy cappes
Holy miters, holy hattes
a good holy, holy knaues.

Holy dayes, holy fastinges:
Holy twitching, holy tastinges,
Holy visions and sightes:
Holy waxe, holy leade:
Holy water, holy breade:
To driue awaye spirites.

Holy fyre, holy palme:
Holy oyle, holy cream:
And holy ashes also:
Holy brouches, holy rynges:
Holy knelynge. holy sensynges:
And a hundred trim trams mo.

Holy crosses, holy belles:
Holy reliques, holy iouels:
Of myne owne inuencion:
Holy candels, holy tapers:
Holy parchementes, holy papers:
Had not you a holy sonne?

Deuell.

All these thinges, which thou hast done
My honour and lawes hath maintained,
But now, Oh alas, one thynge is begone,
By the which mi kingdome is greatly decaied
I shall lese al, I am sore afrayed,
Except thy helpe I knowe right playne,
I shall neuer be able to recouer it agayne.

Gods worde is so greatly sprong vp in youth
That he litle regardeth my lawes or me,
He telleth his parentes that is very truth,
That they of longe tyme haue deceyued be,
He sayth, accordynge to christes veritie,
All his doynges he wyll ordre and frame,
Mortifiyng the flesshe Wt the lustes of ye same.

Hipocrysye.
A syr a, there beginneth the game,

Hipocrysye.
What, is Iuuentus become so tame?
To be a new gospeler.

Deuell.
As fast as I do make, he doth marre,
He that folowed so longe the steppes of good counsell.
that knowledge and he together doth dwell,
For who is so busye in eueri place, as youth

Hipocrysie.
To reade and declare the manifest truth?

Deuell.

But ho Hipocrisie if yu coulde stoppe his mouthe
Thou shouldest wyn mi harte for euer,
What would you haue me to do in the matter?
Shewe me therein your aduisement.

I woulde haue the go incontinent,
And worke some craft, feate or policye,
To set knowledge and hym at contrauersie,
And hys company thy self greatly vse
That Gods worde he may cleane a buse.

Hipocrysye.
At your request I wil not refuse
to do that thynge which in me doth lye,
Dout ye not, but I wyll excuse,
those thynges which ye doth playnly denye
And I wil handel my matters so craftely
that ere he commeth to mans state:
Gods worde and hys liuing shalbe cleane at the bate

Deuell.
thou shalt haue my blessing both early and late,
And be cause thou shalt all mi counsel kepe
thou shalt call my name frendshyp.

Hipocrysie
By the masse it is a name full mete,
For my proper and amyable person,

Deuell.
Oh, fare wel fare wel my sonne,
Spede thy busynes, for I must be gone,

Hipocrysie

I warrant you, let me a lone,
I will be with Iuuentus anone,
And that ere he be ware.

And I wysse if he walke not streight.
I wil vse such a sleyght,
That shal trap hym in a snare.
How shal I bryng this geare to passe?

I can tel now by the masse,
Without any more aduysement:
I wil infect hym with wicked company,
Whose conuersation shalbe so fleshly,
yea, able to ouer come an innocent,

This wicked felowshipe,
Sall hym company kepe,
For a whyle:
And then I will bryng in,
Abhominable lyuyng,
Hym to beguyle.

With wordes fayre I wyll hym tyse,
Tellyng hym of a gyrle nyse,
Which shal hym somwhat moue:
Abhomynable liuing, though she be,
yet he shal no other wayes se.
But she is for to loue.

She shall hym procure,
To lyue in pleasure,
After hys owne phantesy?
And my matter to frame,
I wyll call her name,
Unknowen honestie.

This wil I conuey,
My matter I say,
Some what hansomely,
That through wicked felowship:
And false pretende frendshep,
youth shall lyue carnally.

Trudge hypocrysie trudge,
Thou art a good drudge,
To serue the deuel:
If thou shouldest lye and lurke,
And not entend thy worke,
Thy maister should do full euel.

Here entreth, youth, to whom hepocrysye yet speaketh

What maister youth.
Wel I met by my trouth
and whether a way?
you are the last man,
Whych I called on,
I sware by thys daie.

Me thought by your face
Ere you cam in place,
It should be you:
Therfore I did a byde,
For your commyng, thys is true.

Iuuentus.
For your gentelnes, syr. most hertely I thanke you
But yet you must holde me som what excused,
For to my symple knowledge I neuer knew
That you and I together were acquainted,
But neuertheles, if you do it renew,
Old acquayntaunce will some be remembred

Hipocrisie.

Ah now I se wel youth is fethered
And hys crumes he hath Well gathered,
Since I spake with hym last
A pore mans tale can not now be herde
As in tymes past:

I crye you mercy, I was som what bolde
Thynkyng that your mastershyp would,
Not haue byn so strange:
But now I perceue that promocyon,

Causeth both man, maners and fashyon
Greatly for to chaunge.

iuuētus
you are to blame this me to calenge
For I thinke I am not he which you take me for

Hipocrysye.
yes, I haue knowen you euer since you were bore
your age is yet vnder a score,
Which I can wel remember:
I wisse, I wisse you and I.
Many a tyme haue ben ful mery.
When you were yong and tender.

iuuētus
Then I pray let vs reason no lenger
But fyrst shewe your nominacion.

Hipocrysye.
Of my name to make declaracyon
Without any dissimulacyon,
I am called frendshyip:
Although I be symple and rude of facyon
yet by linage and generacyon,
I am ney kyn to your mastership.

iuuētus
What frendshyp.
I am glad to se that you be mery,
By mi trouth I had almost you forgot,
By long absence brought out of memory,

Hipocrysye.
By the masse I loue you so hartely,
That there is none so welcome to my company
I pray you tell me, whether are you goyng?

iuuētus
My entention is to go heare apreachyng

Hipocrysie.
A preachyng quod he, ha good litle one
By chryst she will make you cry out of the wynnyng
If you folowe her instruction so early in the mornyng,

iuuētus
Full great I do abhore thys your wicked saying,
For no doubt they encreace much sinne and vice,
Therfore I pray you shew not your meanyng,
For I delyght not in such folish fantesies

Hypocrysye.
Surely, then you are the more vnwyse.
you mai haue a spyrt amongest them now and then
Why should not you as wel as other men?

iuuētus
As for al those fylthe doynges. I vtterly detest them,
I wyll heare no more of youre wycked communycacyon.

Hypocrysye.
yf I may be so bold by your deliberation
What wil you do at a preachyng?

iuuētus
Learne som holsome and godly teaching,
Of the true minister of Christes gospel.

Hipocrysye.
Tush, what he wil say I know right well,
He wil say that God is a good man,
He can make hym no better, and say the best he can

iuuētus
I know that, but what then?
The more that Gods worde is preached and taught
The greater the occasion is to all christen men,
To forsake their sinful liuinges, both wycked, vile & naught
And to repent their former euils, which they haue wrought
Trustyng by Chrystes death to be redemed.
And he that this doth, shal neuer be disceyued.

Hipocrysye
wel sayde mayster doctor, wel sayd.
By the masse we must haue you, in to the pulpyt,
I pray you be remembred, and couer your head
For in dede you haue nede to kepe in your wit,
A Sirra, who would haue thought it
That youth had bene such a wel learned man:
Let me se your portous gentle syr Ihon.

iuuētus
No, it is not a boke for to loke on,
you ought not to iest with Gods testamēt.

Hipocrysye.
What man, I pray you be content,
For I do nothyng els but sai mi phantasie
But yet if you would do after mi aduisment
In that matter you should not be so busy
Was not your father as wel learned as ye?

And if he had sayd then as you haue now done
I wisse, he had ben like to make a burne

Iuunetus.
It were much better for me, then to returne
Frō my fayth in Christ, & the profession of hys worde.

Hipocrysye.
whether is better, a halter or a corde
I can not tell, I sweare by Goddes mother
But I thynge you wil haue the one or the other
Wil you lose al your frendes Good wil
To continue in that opion stil,
Was ther not as wel lerned men before as now?
yea, and better to I may saye to you
And they thought the yonger sort of the people
By the elders to take an example
And if I did not loue you as nature doth me bynde
you should not know so much of my mynde

Iuunutus.
Whether were I better to be ignoraunt and blynde
And to be dampned in hel for infidelitie?
Or to learne godli knowledge, wherin I shal finde
The right path way to eternal felicitie?

Hipocrycye.
Can you denye, but it is your dutye
Unto your elders to be obedient

iuuētus
I graunt I am bound to obay my parentes
In al thynges honest and lawful?

Hipocrysie.
Lawful quod ha, a foole foole
Wil thou set men to scoole
when they be olde
I may say to you secretly
The worlde was neuer meri
Since chyldren where so boulde:
Now euery boy wil be a teacher
The father a foole, and the chyld a preacher
Thys is preaty geare
The foole presumptious of youth

wyll turne shortly to great ruth
I feare. I feare. I feare.

Iuuuetus.
The sermon wyll be done ere I can com there,
I care not greatly whether I go or no,
And yet for my promys, by God I sweare,
Ther is no remedy but I must nedes go:
Of my companyons there wyll be mo
And I promysed them bi godds grace
To mete them there as the sermon was.

Hipocrysye.
For onse breakyng promyse do not you passe,
Make some excuse the matter to cease
what haue they to do?
And you and I were I wote wote where
we woulde be as mery as there
yea, and merryer to

Iuueutus.
I would gladly in your compane go
But if my companyons shoulde chaunce to se
They woulde report full euell by me:
And peraduenture if I would it vse.
My company they would cleane refuse.

Hipocrycye.
what, are those felowes so curious
That your selfe you can not excuse?
I wyll teache you the matter to conuey
Do what your owne lust, and saye as they say
And if you be reproued wyth your owne affynytye
Byd them plucke the beame out of there owne eye
The olde popysh priestes mocke and despyse
And the ignoraunt people that beleue theyr lyes
Call them papistes, hipocrites, & ioynyng of the plough.
Fare out the matter, and then good ynough.
Let your boke at your gyrdle be tyed,
Or els in your bosome that he may be spyed,
And then it will be sayd both wyth youth and age

yonder felow hath an excellent knowledge.
tushe tushe,
I could so beare the busshe,
that all should be flusshe.
that euer I did.

iuuētus
Now by my trouth you are meryly disposed
Let vs go thether as you thenke best.

Hipocrisye.
How say you, shall we go to breakefast
will you go to the pye feast,
Or by the masse if thou wilt be my gest
It shal cost the nothyng,
I haue a furny carde in a place,
that wyll bare aturne besides the ace,
She puruyes now a pace,
For mi commynge
And if thou wylt fybbere as well as I.
we shall haue mery company,
And I warrant theyf we haue not a pye
we shall haue a pudding.

iuuētus
By the masse that meate I loue aboue all thynge:
you may draw me a bout the towne Wt a puddynge:

Hipocrisye.
Then you shall se cunnyng.
A poore shyft for a liuing.
Here entreth.
Amongest poore men vsed is,
The kynde hart of hyrs,
Hyth eased my purse,
Many a tyme ere thys

Felowshyp
I meruayle greatly where frendshyp is,
He promised to mete me here eare thys tyme
I beshrew his hart that thys promys doth mys,
And then be ye sure it shall not be mine

Hypocrisye.
yes feloshyp that it shalbe thine
For I haue taryed here thys oure or twayne,

And this honest gentylman in mi company hath ben
To a byde your commyng. thys thing is playne

Fellowshyp.
By the masse if you chyde. I will be gon agayne
For in fayth frendshyp, I mai saye to the
I loue not to be there, where chyders be

Hipocrysye.
No God it knoweth, you are as ful of honesty
As a mary bone is full of honey
But syrra, I pray you bid thys gentelman welcome
For he is desirous in your company to come,
I tel you he is a man of the right makyng
And one that hath excellent learnyng
At hys gyrdle he hath such a boke
That the popysshe priestes dare not in hym loke
This is a felow for the nones.

Fellowshyp.
I loue hym the better by gods precious bones,
you are hartele welcome as I maye saye
I shal desyre you of better acquaintaunce
That of your company be bolde I maye
you may be sure yf in me it lye,
To do you pleasure, you shoulde it fynd
For by the masse I loue you, both wyth hart and mynde.

iuuētus
To saye the same to you, your gētlenes doth me binde
And I thanke you hertely for your kyndnes

Hipocrysie.
Wil you se thys gentleman fynes
your gentelnes and your kindnes,
I thanke him and I thanke you,
And I thinke, if the truth wery sought,
The one bad, and the other naught,
Neuer a good I make God a vow.
But yet feloship tel me one thyng.
Did you se litle besse thys mornyng?
We should haue our brekefast, yester nyght she sayd,
But she hath fore gotten it now, I am a fraid.

Felowship.
Her promise shalbe perfourmed and payd,
For I spake with her synce the tyme I rose
And then she tolde me how the matter goeth:
We must be with her betwene eyght and nyne,
And then her maister & mystres wil be at the preachynge

Iuuentus.
I purposed my selfe there to haue bene,
But thys man prouoked me to the contrary
And tolde me that we shoulde haue mery company.

Felowship
Mery quod ha, we can not chuse but be mery,
For ther is such a gyrle, where as we go,
Whych wyl make vs be mery, whether we wyll or no

Hipocrycye.
The ground is the better on the whych she doth go
For she wyll make better chere Wt a litle whych she cā get
Then many one cane Wt a great banket of meate,

iuuētus
To be in her company my hart is set,
Therfore I praie you let vs be gone

Felowshyp
She wyl com her selfe a none
For I tolde her before where we woulde stande.
And then she sayde she woulde becke vs with her hande

Iuuentus.
Now by the masse I perceyue that she is a gallaunde
What wyl she take paynes to come for vs hether?

Hipocrysye.
yea I waraūt you, therfore you must be familier Wt her
When she commeth in place,
you must her embrace,
Somwhat hamsomlie.
Leste she thynketh danger
Be cause you are a stranger,
To come in your companye.
yea, by Gods foot that I wyll be busye
And I may saye to you I can play the knaue secretly

Abhominable liuyng.
Hem, com a way quickly
The back dore is opned I dare not tarry,
Come felowship come on a waye.

Hypocrycye.
What vnknowne honestye a worde
you shall not go yet by God I sweare.
Here is none but your frendes, you nede not to fraye,
Although thys strange yong gentel man be here,

Iuuentus.
I trust in me she wyll thynke no daunger.
For I loue well the company of fayre women.

abhominable liuyng.
Who you, nay ye are suche a holy man,
That to tuche one ye dare not be bolde,
I thyng you woulde not kysse a yong woman,
yf owne would geue you .xx. pound in goulde,

Iuuentus.
yes by the masse that I woulde,
I could fynde in my hart to kysse you in your smocke

abhominable lyuing.
My backe is brode inough to bare a waye that mocke as myne
For one hath told me many a tyme,
That you haue said iou would vse no such wātōs cōpani

Iunentus.
By dogs precyous woundes ye was some horson vyllain
I will neuer eate meate that shall dome good,
Tell I haue cut hys fleshe by gods precious blude,
Tell me I pray you who it was.
And I wyl tryme the knaue by the blessed masse

Hipocrysye.
Tush, as for that do not you passe
That which I tolde you was but for loue

abhomynable.
She dyd nothyng els but proue,
Whether a litle thynge woulde you moue
To be angry and frette
What and if one had sayde so,
Let such tryflyng matters go
And be good to mens flesh for all that.

iuuētus
Kisseth abho. lyuynge.
To kysse her since she cam I had cleane forgot
you are welcome to my company
Syr I thanke you most hartely,
By your kyndnes it doth a pere.

Hipocri-
What a hurly burly is here,

Smicke smacke and all thys gere
you well to tycke take I fere.
yf thou had tyme,
Well wanton well,
I wysse I can tell
That suche smocke smell
wyl set your nose out of tune.

abbominable lyuing.
what man you nede not to fume,
Seinge he is come in to my company now
He is as wel welcom as the best of you
And if it lye in me to do hym pleasur.
He shall haue it, you may be sure.

Felowship.
Thē old acquayntaūce is cleāe out of fauour
Lo frendshyp, this geargoth with aflleight
He hath dreuen vs twayne out of conceyte

Hipocrisye.
Out of conceyte, quod ha no no,
I dare welsay that she thynketh not so,
How say you vnknowne honestie?
Do not you loue felowshyp and me?

abbominable liuing.
ye by the masse I loue you all thre,
But yet in dede yf I shoulde saye the trouth
Amongest all other welcom mayster youth

iuuētus
he kysseth abhominabl liuīg
Ful greatly I do delyght to kysse your pleasaūt mouth
I am not able your kyndnes to recompence,
I long to talke Wt you secretly, therfore let vs go hence.
I agre to that, for I would not for .xx. pence,
That it were knowen where I haue bene.

Hipocrysye.
what and it were knowne it where no daly synne
As for my parte I do not greatly care,
So that they fynd not your proper butteckes bare

abbominable liuing.
Now much fie vpon you how badi you are,
I wosse frendship it mouth haue bē spoken at twise
What thīke you for your saing ye people wyll surmise

Iuuentuss.
Who dare be so boulde vs to despise?
And if I may heare a knaue speake one worde,
I wyll runne thorow his chekes with my sword.

Felowshyp.
This is an ernest felow of gods word
Se I pray you, how he is disposed to fight

Iuuentus.
Why, should I not and if my cause be ryght
What, and if a knaue do me begyle?
Sall I stand crouching like an owle,
No, no, then you myght count me a very cowe,
I know what belongeth to gods law as well as you.

abhominable lyuing.
your wit therin greatly I do alowe,
For and yf I were a man as you are,
I would not sticke to geue a blowe,
To teache other knaues to beware,
I beshrew you twyse and yf you do spare,
But lay lode on the flesshe whatsoeuer befal
you haue strength ynough to do it with all,

Felowship.
Let vs depart, and if that we shal,
Come on maisters, we twaine wil go before.

iuuētus
Nay nay my frende stoppe there
yt is not you that shall haue her awaye,
She Sall go with me, and yf she go to daye.

Hipocrisye.
She shall go with none of you I dare wel saye,
She wyll go with me before you both,

abhomynable.
To forsake any of your company I wolde be very loth
Therfore I will folow you all thre,

Hipocrysye.
Now I beshrew his herte, that to that wyll not agree,
But yet because the tyme shall not seme very longe,
Or eare we departe, let vs haue a mery songe

The sing as foloweth.

Why should not youth fulfyl hys owne mynde,
As the course of nature doth hym bynde,
Is not euery thyng ordayned to do hys kynd?
Report me to you, report me to you.

Do not the floures spring fresh and gaye,
Pleasaunt and swete in the month Maye?
And when theyr tyme commeth they fayd awaye,
Report me to you, report me to you.

Be not the trees in wyntter bare,
Lyke vnto theyr kynde, such they are,
And when they spring, theyr frutes declare
Report me to you, report me to you.

What should youth do, wyth the frutes of age
But liue in pleasure in thys passage,
For when age commeth hes lustes wyll swage
Report me to you, report me to you.

Why shoulde not youth fulfyll hys owne mynde
As the course of nature doth hym bynde. &c.

They go fourth.
Here entreth god counsell.

O mercyfurl Lord, who can seace to lament,
Or kepe hys hart from continual mournyng,
To se how youth is fallen from thy worde
And wholy enclyned to abhominable lyuyng,
He lyueth nothyng accordyng to his profession
But alas hys lyfe is, to thy worde abusion,
Except thy grat mercy to hys vtter confusyon.
O where is the godly conuersacyon
Which shoulde be among the professour of thy worde
O where may a man finde now one faythfull
That is not enfected with dissencyon or descorde?
Or amongest whome are all vices abhord vtterly

O where is the brotherly loue betwene man & man
we may lament the tyme our vice be gan
O where is the peace & mekenes, longe suffring & temperaunce
wich are the frutes of Gods holy spirit,
with whome is the flesh brought vnder obedience,
Or who readeth the scripture to the intent to folow it
who vseth not now couetousnes and disceite,

Who geueth vnto the poore that whych is dewe?
I thinke in thys world, few that lyue nowe.

O where is ye godly exāple that parentes should geue.
Unto their yong familie, by godly & vertuous lyuyng?
Alas how wicked do they themselfes lyue,
Without any fear of God, or his ryghteous threatening,
They haue no respect vnto the dreadfull rekenyng,
Whych shalbe required of vs, when the Lorde shall come,
As a ryght full iudge at the daye of dome,

O what a ioyfull sight was it for to se,
When youth be gan Gods worde to imbrace?
Then he promysed godly knowledge and me,
That from our instructiō he would neuer turne his face
But now he walketh, alas: in the vngodlyes chase,
Heapyng sinne vp on sinne, vice vpon vyce,
He that lyueth most vngodly, is counted most wyse,

Her entreth Iuuentus
Who is here playng at the dyce?
I herd one speake of synnes and cyce,
Hys wordes did me entice.
Hither to come:

Good counsell
Ayouth youth, whether doest thou runne?
Greatly I do be wayle thy misrable estate,
The tyrrible plagues, which in Gods lawe are written,
Hang ouer thy head both early and late:
O fleshly capernite, stubburne and obstinate,
Thou haddest leuer forsake Christ thy sauiour and kinge
Then thy fleshly swinish lustes, & abbomynable lyuynge.

Iuuentus.
what olde hoorson, art thou a chydyng?
I will play a spyrt, why should I not?
I set a myte by thy chekyng
what hast thou to do, and yf I lose my cote:
I wyll trill the bones whyle I haue one grote,
And when there is no more inke in the pen,

I wyll make a shyfe as well as other men.

Good coūsell.
Then I perceue you haue for gotton cleane,
The promyse that you made vnto knowledge and me
you sayde such fleshly fruites shoulde not besene,
But to Gods worde your lyfe should a gre
Full true be the wordes of the prophet Osey
No verytie nor knowledge of God is now in the land.
But abomynable vices hath gotten the vpper hand.

Iuuentus.
your mynde therin I do well vnderstand.
you go a bout my lyueng to despise,
But you wil not se the beames in your own eyes,

Good counsell
The deuell hath you dysceiued whych is ye auctor of lyes
And trape you in hys snar of wicked hypocrye,
Therfore all that euer you do deuyse
Is to maintayne your fleshly lybertie

Iuuentus.
I merueyle why you do thys report me,
Wherin do I my life abuse?

Good councell
your whole conuersacyon I may well accuse,
As in my consience iust occasion I find.
Therfore be not offended, although I exprese my mynde

Iuuentus.
Bi the masse if thou tel not truth, I wil not be behind
To touch you as well agayne.

Good counsell

For thys thyng most cheifly I do complaye:
Haue ye not professed the knowledge of Chrystes gospell
And yet I thynke no more vngodlines doth raigne,
In any wicked Heathen, Turke or infidell:
who can deuyse that synne or euyll,
That you practyse not from day to day
yea and count yt nothyng but a iest or a play,

Alas, what wantonnes remaineth in your flesh?
How desyrous are you, to accomplish your owne wyll
what pleasure & delyght haue you in wickednes?
How diligent are you your lustes to fulfyll?

S. Paul sayth that you ought your fleshly lustes to kyll
But vnto hys teachyng, your lyfe ye will not frame
Therfore in vayne you beare a christians name.

Rede the .v. to the Galathians, & there you shal se
That the flesh rebelleth agaynst the spirit
And that your own flesh is our most veter enemye,
If in youre soules helth you do delyght:
The tyme were to long now to recite,
What whordom, uncleanes and fylthe communycacyon
Is despersed wyth youth, in euery congregation

To speake of pryde, enuye, and abhomynable othes
They are the common practises of youth,
To auaunce your flesh, you cut & iagge your clothes,
And yet ye are a great gospeller in the mouth:
What shall I say, for thys plasphemyng the truth
I wyll shew you what saynt, Paule doth declare
In his epistle to the Hebrues, and the .x. Chapter.

For hym sayth he, whych doth wyllyngly syn or consēt
After he hath receued the knowledge of the veryte
Remayneth no more sacrifice, but a fearful lokīg for iudgemēt
And a trrible fier, whych shal consume ye aduersary
And Christ sayth that thys blasphemy,
Shal neuer be pardoned nor forgeuen,
In thys world, nor in the world to come

Iuuentus.
He lyeth doun,

Alas alas, what I haue wrought and done?
Here in thys place I wil fal doune desperate,
To aske for mercy, now I know it is to late

Alas alas, that euer, I was begat,
I wolde to God I had neuer bene borne,
All faythfull mē that beholde this wreched state
May very iusty laugh me to scorne:
They may say my tyme I haue euel spent and worne,
Thus in my first age, to worke my owne destructyon,

In the eternall paynes is my parte and portion.

Good counsell
Why youth, art thou fallen into desperation?
What man plucke vp thine harte, and rise,
Although thou se nothing now, but thy condempnation
yet it may please God agayn to open thy eyes:
Ah wretched creature, what doest thou surmise?
Thinckest not that Gods mercy doth excede thy synne?
Remembre his mercifull promises & cōfort thi self in hī

Iuuentus.
O syr, this state is so miserable the which I lye in,
That my comfort and hope from me is seperated,
I woulde to god I had neuer bene.
Wo worth the time that euer I was created.

Good counsell
A fayre vessel vnfaithfull and faint harted,
Doest thou thinke that god is so merciles,
That when the sinner doth repent, and is conuerted,
That he wyll not fulfyll his mersifull promyses:

Iuuentus.
Alas syr, I am in suche heauines,
That his promises I can not remembre

Good councell
In thy wickednes continue no lenger,
But trust in the Lorde without any feare,
And his mercifull promises shall shortly appeare

Iuuentus
I would beleue if I myght them heare,
With all my hart, power and mynde,

Good counsell
The liuing God hath hym hether assined:
Lo, where he commeth euen here by,
Therfore marke hys sayinges diligently.

Here entreth goddes merciful promises.
The Lord by his prophet Ezechiel sayeth in this wyse playnlye
As in the .xxxiii. chapter it doth appere.
Be conuerted O ye children, and turne vnto me,
And I shall remedy the cause of your departure,
And also he sayth in the .xviii. chapter,
I do not delyght in a synners death,
But that he should conuert & liue, thus the Lord sayth,

Iuuentus.
Then must I geue neither credit nor fayth,
Unto sainct Paules saying, which this man did alege

Gods mercyfull promyses.
yes, you must credite thē, according vnto knowledge,
For sainct Paul speketh of those whiche resist ye truth by violēce
And so end theyr lyues without repentaunce,
thus sainct Austine doth them define,
yf vnto the Lordes word you do your eares encline,
And obsarue those thinges, which he hath commaunded
this sinfull state, in the whiche you haue lyen.
Salbe forgotten, and neuer more remembred,
And Christ hym selfe in the gospel hath promysed,
that he which in hym vnfaynedly doth beleue,
Although he were dead, yet shall he lyue.

Her riseth Iuuentus.
these comfortable sayinges doth me greatly moue
to arise from this wretched place.

Gods mercyfull promyses.
For me his mercy sake thou shalt optayne hys grace
And not for thyne owne desertes, this must thou know
For my sake alone he shall receyue solace,
For my sake alone, he wyll thee marcy shew,
therfore to hym as it is moste dew,
Geue most harty thankes, with hart vnfayned
Whose name for euer more be praysed.

Good counsell
The prodigall sonne as in Luke we rede
which in vicious liuing his good dooth wast,
As sone as his lyuing he had remembred,
To confesse his wretchednes he was not agast,
wherfore his father, louingly hym embrast,
And as right ioyful, the text sayth playne
Because his sonne was returnen agayne.

Iuuentus

O synfull flesh, thy pleasurs are but vaine,
Now I fynde it true, as the scripture doth saye,
Brode & pleasaunt is the path, which ledeth vnto payne,
But vnto eternall lyfe, full narow is the waye,

He that is not led by Gods spyrite, surely goeth astrayer
And all that euer he doth, shalbe cleane abhorde
Although he bragge & bost neuer so much of Gods worde,

O subtell Satan, full deceitfull is thy snare,
Who is able thy falshed to dysclose?
What is the man that thou doest fauour or spare
And dost not tempt hym eternall ioyes to lose?
Not on the world, surele I suppose,
Therfoore happy is the man, which doth truli wayte,
Alwayes to refuse thy decetful and crafty bayt

When I had thought to lyue most christanly
And folowed the steppes of knowledg & good councel,
Ere I was ware thou haddest deceyued me
And brought me into the path, whych leadeth vnto hel:
And of an earnest professor of chrystes gospell
Thou madest me an ypocrite, blynd and peruert,
And from vertue vnto vice, yu hadst cleāe turned mi hart

Fyrst by hypocrysie thou didest me moue,
The mortifycacyon of the flesh, cleane to forsake,
And wanton desyre to embrace and loue,
Alas to thynke of it, my hart doth quake,
Under the tytle of frendshyp to me he spake,
And so to wicked feloshyp did me brynge,
Which broughe me cleane to abhominable lyuing

Thus I saye. Sathan did me disceyue,
And wrapped me in sinne many afould,
The steppes of good counsell, I did forsake and laeue,
And forgote the wordes, which be fore to me he told:
The fruites of a true Christan, in me waxed cold
I folewed myne one lustes, the fleshe I did not tame,
And had them in dirision, which woulde not do the same.
yet it hath pleased God of his endles mercy
To geue me respite my lyfe to amende.

From the bottome of my hart, I repent my iniquitie.
I wil walke in hys lawes vnto my lyues ende:
From hys holy ordinaunce I wyll neuer dicende.
But my whole delyght shalbe to lyue therein,
Utterly abhorring all filthynes and synne.

All Christen people, whiche be here present,
May learne by me hypocrysye to know
With the which the deuel, as Wt a poyson moste pestilente
Dayly seketh all men to ouer throw:
Credite not all thynges vnto the out warde shew,
But trye thē Wt Gods word, that squire & rule moste iust
Whiche neuer deceued them that in hym put theyr trust

Let not flattryng frēdship, nor yet wicked company
Parswade you in no wise, Gods worde to abuse
But se that you stand stedfastly vnto the veritie
And accordīg to the rule therof, your doings frame & vse
Neyther kynred nor felowshyp shal you excuse
When you shall appere before the iudgement seat
But your owne secret concyence shal thē geue an audite

All you that be young, whom I do now represent,
Set youre delite both day & nyght on Christes testament
yf pleasure you tickele, be not fikle, & sodenly slyde,
But in Gods feare eueri where, se that you abyde
In your tender age, seke for knowledge, & after wisedom rūne
& in iour old age, teach your famili, to do, as you haue dū
youre bodys subdue, vnto vertue, delite not in vaniti
Say not I am yōg, I shall liue long lest iour dais shortēed be
Do not enclyne, to spend ye tyme, in wanton ioyes & uyce
For idlenes doth encrese much wickednes and vyce,
Do not delaye the tyme, and saye my ende is not nere
For Wt short warning, the lordes cōmīg shal sodēly apere
God geue vs grace, his word to ēbrace, & to liue therafter
That be the same, hys holy name, may be prased euer.

Good counsel.
Now let vs make oure supplicacions together
For ye prosperous estate of oure noble & vertuous quene,
That in her godly procedinges she may still perseuer,
Which seketh the glory of God aboue all other thynge.
O Lord endue her hart with true vnderstandyng.
And geue her a prosperous lyfe, longe ouer vs to rayne,
To gouerne & rule her people as a worthy seruant.

Iuunetus.
Also, let vs for all the nobilite of this realme,
And namely for those, whome her grace auctorised,
To mayntayne the publike welth ouer vs & them,
That they may se his gracyous actes published,
And they, beyng truly admonished,
By the complaynt of them, which are wrongfulli opprest
May sette a reformation, and se it redrest.

Good coūsell.
Then shall thys land enioy great quietnes & rest
And geue vnto God most herty thankes therfore,
To whome be honor, prase and glory for euermore

Finis

Quod R. Weuer.